Foundation

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Summary: Great Book for any Age
Review: I certainly do not sound quite as intellectual as other people who have reviewed this novel. All I have to say is that I found this book extremely interesting and thrilling. When my teacher recommended this book to me, I was skeptical, however, Foundation turned out to be one of the best books I ever read and I can't wait to read the other ones. Psychohistory and Hari Seldon rock! Whoever doesn't read this book is missing out on one of the best ever.

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Summary: Sci-fi fan Discovers Asimov's Classic
Review: Being an avid sci-fi fan, I've read many books of the genere, but Foundation was the first Asimov that I had read. Foundation was an amazing book, in what I imagine is an incredible series. (I haven't read the others yet!) Asimov hooks you with a flawless story-line and personable characters, and reels you in with superb twists and turns and a way of resolving things that is limited to only his intellect. His visions of the future are as or more astounding then Orson Well's and his story-telling ability ranks among the best. It might be a "Seldon" crisis if you don't read this book. In other words if you are looking for a well crafted, enthralling, completely enjoyable novel, this is it.

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Summary: A landmark in science fiction
Review: Foundation is truly one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written. Isaac Asimov's logical, scientific, and always entertaining writing style is one-of-a-kind. Anyone who appreciates a conseravative, intelligent book will find this book to be a masterpiece. Isaac Asimov has shown himself to be a true Grand Master.

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Summary: the best of the serie
Review: I think this book have to read for every fanatic of science fiction. Is the first of the serie and the best. Is just a classic.

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Summary: Asimov=God.
Review: I think Isaac himself must have been a robot. No human being could possibly have such an amazing command of language. While being filled with plot twists and brilliant surprises, it still manages to let you get in deep with the characters. And if you don't think that it'll have enough violence, Salvor Hardin and I say "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." This book deserves more than a '10' but that as far as ther atings will go! Brian Duffy ([e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Best of its type
Review: The Foundation novels were a great pleasure to read, and I was surprised at the detail and intelligence Asimov puts into his books. Having written over 300 books of different genres, he is a scientific master at writing, and he is considered an above-all superior science fiction novelist of the 20th century. The Foundation novels, all works of art, are a nirvana in his ability.

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Summary: The first written, third in order, and one of the best.
Review: Being a Foundation nut, I have given a 10 to all of Issac Asimov's Foundatino books. (and will probably give all his other books 10's too) The basis behind this story is that it describes an Empire- a Galactic Empire, mind you- that seems to be the same incredible picture of strength that it had been for 12,000 years. The brilliant mathematician, Hari Seldon, developes his science of Psychohistory, a way of predicting the course of future events and discovers that the Empire is decaying and will soon collapse. He then works out a plan to place two "Foundations" at "opposite ends of the galaxy", so that in the course of a millenium they will converge and form a new and greater Empire on the ruins of the old. The novel is sort of like a fictiona

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Summary: Wonderful. Intellectually stimulating
Review: This is one of Asimov's early masterpieces. However, I would not recomend it to those who like action books. This has only a little bit of action in it. The main attraction to it is the intellectual stimulation. The Galactic Empire is falling after 12,000 years. Hari Seldon realizes it and, using the science of psychohistory, the prediction of the future in broad, statistical terms, establishes two Foundations "at opposite ends of the Galaxy" to cushion the Fall. This, the first of the classic Foundation series to be written (though only 3rd in chronological order), traces the early development of the First Foundation as it struggles first simply to survive in the prescence of powerful, hostile Kingdoms (which had formerly been parts of the Galactic Empire), and then to gradual growth and domination of its area of the Galaxy, and the promise of eventually establishing a Second Galactic Empire. Not a traditional novel, but perfect if you like history, as it traces the "historical" development of a nation. This is the epitome of the future history genre

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Summary: A powerful introduction to the world of the master!
Review: This is the book that started my love affair with science fiction.Stationed in Viet Nam in 1968, I started on a quest to read 100 books during my tour. A school teacher from Boston recommeded I read The Foundation Trilogy, claimnig it was the greatest books fo that genre. He might have been pulling my leg but every year fopr five years I reread these and enjoyed them every time. This year I listened to them on books-on-tape and marveled at the ahead of his time thinking, the plot lines and significantly, the characterization. Unheard of in science fiction at that time. Most of what I had read in the fifties was plot driven or technology focussed. Asimov continues to be my favorite science fiction writer and one if my favorites in all genres. I really like the way he weaves the robots, the foundation and the empire themes together in his later novels

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Summary: The first written, and the worst of the series
Review: I started reading this series with the original "Foundation" and was very disappointed with it. After all the acclaim it received, I was expecting something truly exceptional. Instead, I got a historical narrative that is closer in style to something you would read in the Brittanica for a school assignment. It is really a kind of "mutant" between a novel and a documentary. What's more, it is exceptionally boring. What kept me going was the Asimov name on the cover and the hope of better things to come. This is not to say that it is a really bad book. I must confess that it has some interesting parts and of course, the series as a whole is an absolute classic. Every other novel in the Foundation series is so brilliant, that they cover for this disappointment. It must also be remembered that Asimov wrote this book in the early 50's when he was still a young and inexperienced writer